Lace Adjuster

ABSTRACT

A lace adjuster includes a longitudinal hollow body and two stop members. The hollow body defines a longitudinal passage, and has longitudinally opposite first and second ends, and an operating opening disposed between the first and second ends and communicated with the longitudinal passage. The longitudinal passage has first and second openings at the first and second ends, respectively. The stop members are pivotally and transversely mounted in the longitudinal passage and are respectively proximate to the first and second openings of the longitudinal passage. Each of the stop members has a lace-engaging portion, and a handle portion connected to the lace-engaging portion, and is operable so as to adjust the lengths of lace segments.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098118922,filed on Jun. 6, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a lace adjuster, more particularly to a laceadjuster for adjusting a length of a lace easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,652 discloses an adjustablelace assembly 100 which includes a lace 4, a tubular member 1, two stopmembers 3, and two spaced apart inserting pins 2. The lace 4 is composedof two separate lace segments 40 each having a tagged end 42 and anopposite bent end portion 41. The tubular member 1 has a passage 11 forreceiving the bent end portions 41. The stop members 3 are mountedpivotally inside the tubular member 1 at two axially spaced apartpositions and span the passage 11. Each of the stop members 3 has anengaging part 31 engageable with one of the bent end portions 41. Theinserting pins 2 are insertable removably into the tubular member 1, arecapable of disengaging the bent end portions 41, respectively, from theengaging parts 31 of the stop members 3, and permit movement of the bentend portions 41 so that a length between the tagged end 42 of each ofthe lace segments 40 and a corresponding one of the stop members 3 canbe adjusted.

Although the length between the tagged end 42 of each of the lacesegments 40 and the corresponding one of the stop members 3 can beadjusted, the adjustable lace assembly 100 has the followingdisadvantages:

-   -   1. Since the bent end portion 41 of each of the lace segments 40        has a cross-section double of that of each of the lace segments,        the tubular member 1 is required to have a relatively large size        for receiving the bent end portion 41 therein.    -   2. Once the bent end portion 41 of each of the lace segments 40        is stopped by a corresponding one of the stop members 3 after        removing the inserting pins 2, the length between the tagged end        42 of each of the lace segments 40 and the corresponding one of        the stop members 3 can not be further adjusted.    -   3. Since the inserting pins 2 are required in the adjustable        lace assembly 100, the production and assembly of the adjustable        lace assembly 100 is relatively complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a laceadjuster which is simple and small in structure and which can be reusedfor adjusting a length of a lace.

Accordingly, the lace adjuster of this invention is used for adjusting alength of a lace composed of two separate lace segments, and includes alongitudinal hollow body and two stop members. The longitudinal hollowbody defines a longitudinal passage, and has longitudinally oppositefirst and second ends, and an operating opening disposed between thefirst and second ends and communicated with the longitudinal passage.The longitudinal passage has first and second openings at the first andsecond ends, respectively. The stop members are pivotally andtransversely mounted in the longitudinal passage and are respectivelyproximate to the first and second openings of the longitudinal passage.Each of the stop members has a lace-engaging portion and a handleportion connected to the lace-engaging portion, and is operable betweena first position in which the handle portion is pushed into thelongitudinal passage of the longitudinal hollow body so that thelace-engaging portion is moved close to an inner surface of thelongitudinal hollow body for clamping a corresponding one of the lacesegments against the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body, anda second position in which the handle portion is pulled out of theoperating opening so that the lace-engaging portion is moved away fromthe inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body for loosening thecorresponding one of the lace segments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a conventionallace adjuster disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,652;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of alace adjuster according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment when applied toa shoe body;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views to illustrate the operation of thepreferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a body in the preferred embodiment in anun-folded state; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a stop member in the preferred embodimentin an un-folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the preferred embodiment of a laceadjuster 100 according to this invention is shown to be applied to ashoe body 300 that has a plurality of eyelets 310. The lace adjuster 100is used for adjusting a length of each of two separate lace segments200. The lace segments 200 are strung through the eyelets 310, and eachof the lace segments 200 has a tagged end portion 220 with a tagged end230 and a stringing end portion 210 opposite to the tagged end portion220.

The lace adjuster 100 is installed between the eyelets 310 on the shoebody 300, and includes a longitudinal hollow body 10, two stop members20, and a coating layer 30 applied on the longitudinal hollow body 10.

The longitudinal hollow body 10 defines a longitudinal passage 13, andhas longitudinally opposite first and second ends 111, 112, and anoperating opening 14 disposed between the first and second ends 111, 112and communicated with the longitudinal passage 13. The longitudinalpassage 13 has first and second openings 131, 132 at the first andsecond ends 111, 112, respectively. The longitudinal hollow body 10 hasa peripheral wall 11 that is a substantially reverse U-shapedcross-section and that includes first and second sides 113, 114extending between the first and second ends 111, 112, and a third side116 interconnecting the first and second sides 113, 114 and confiningthe longitudinal passage 13 in cooperation with the first and secondsides 113, 114. The peripheral wall 11 further has two pairs of pivotholes 115 in the first and second sides 113, 114 thereof. The operatingopening 14 is confined between the first and second sides 113, 114opposite to the third side 116. Furthermore, each of the first andsecond ends 111, 112 of the longitudinal hollow body 10 has a pair ofspaced apart tabs 12 protruding oppositely and respectively from thefirst and second sides 113, 114 of the peripheral wall 11. Thelongitudinal passage 13 is disposed between the pairs of the tabs 12.Each of the first and second openings 131, 132 of the longitudinalpassage 13 is defined by one pair of the tabs 12 and the first, second,and third sides 113, 114, 116 of the peripheral wall 11. The third side116 of the peripheral wall 11 is formed with an indicating portion 15(e.g., a trademark, a figure, text, or the like) protruded out of thecoating layer 30.

The stop members 20 are pivotally and transversely mounted in thelongitudinal passage 13 and are respectively proximate to the first andsecond openings 131, 132 of the longitudinal passage 13. Each of thestop members 20 has a lace-engaging portion 22 and a handle portion 23connected to the lace-engaging portion 22. The lace-engaging portion 22and the handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 are angled toeach other to form a substantially L-shaped cross-section. Thelace-engaging portion 22 of each of the stop members 20 has a pluralityof teeth 221. Each of the stop members 20 further includes a pair ofpivoting portions 21 extending oppositely and outward from the handleportion 23 and pivotally connected to the longitudinal hollow body 10 ata corresponding pair of the pivot holes 115.

The handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 is operable betweena first position in which the handle portion 23 is pushed into thelongitudinal passage 13 of the longitudinal hollow body 10 so that thelace-engaging portion 22 is moved close to an inner surface of thelongitudinal hollow body 10 for clamping a corresponding one of the lacesegments 200 against the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body10, and a second position in which the handle portion 23 is pulled outof the operating opening 14 so that the lace-engaging portion 22 ismoved away from the inner surface of the longitudinal hollow body 10 forloosening the corresponding one of the lace segments 200.

Referring to FIG. 5, in assembly, the handle portion 23 of each of thestop members 20 is operated to be at the second position. The stringingend portion 210 of each of the lace segments 200 is strung into thelongitudinal passage 13 via a corresponding one of the first and secondopenings 131, 132 and is passed around a corresponding one of the stopmembers 20 so as to be strung out of the operating opening 14 and toadjust the lengths of the lace segments 200.

Referring to FIG. 6, after adjusting the lengths of the lace segments200, the handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 is operated tobe at the first position so that the lace-engaging portion 22 of each ofthe stop members 20 is moved close to the inner surface of thelongitudinal hollow body 10 to clamp the stringing end portion 210 ofthe corresponding one of the lace segments 200 between the inner surfaceof the longitudinal hollow body 10 and the teeth 221 of thelace-engaging portion 22.

When the lengths of the lace segments 200 are required to be furtheradjusted, the handle portion 23 of each of the stop members 20 isoperated to be at the second position again so that adjustment of thelengths of the lace segments 200 can proceed.

Referring to FIG. 7, the longitudinal hollow body 10 can be formedintegrally by punching and bending a metal plate. The longitudinalhollow body 10 thus formed is coated to form the coating layer 30thereon, which is then milled to obtain the indicating portion 15, asbest shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 8, similarly, each of the stop members 20 can beformed integrally by punching and bending a metal plate, and ispivotally mounted in the longitudinal passage 13 of the longitudinalhollow body 10 so as to obtain the lace adjuster 100.

In view of the aforesaid, the lace adjuster 100 of the present inventionhas the following advantages:

-   -   1. Since it is not required for each of the first and second        openings 131, 132 of the longitudinal passage 13 to have a size        for receiving double of the cross-section of the lace segment        200, the size of the longitudinal hollow body 10 can be reduced.    -   2. Since the stop members 20 are pivotally mounted to the        longitudinal hollow body 10, the lengths of the lace segments        200 can be adjusted repeatedly by simply operating the stop        members 20.    -   3. Since the longitudinal hollow body 10 and the stop members 20        can be formed by punching and bending metal plates, the lace        adjuster 100 can be produced with relative ease.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A lace adjuster adapted for adjusting a length of a lace composed oftwo separate lace segments, said lace adjuster comprising: alongitudinal hollow body defining a longitudinal passage, and havinglongitudinally opposite first and second ends, and an operating openingdisposed between said first and second ends and communicated with saidlongitudinal passage, said longitudinal passage having first and secondopenings at said first and second ends, respectively; and two stopmembers pivotally and transversely mounted in said longitudinal passageand respectively proximate to said first and second openings of saidlongitudinal passage, each of said stop members having a lace-engagingportion and a handle portion connected to said lace-engaging portion andbeing operable between a first position in which said handle portion ispushed into said longitudinal passage of said longitudinal hollow bodyso that said lace-engaging portion is moved close to an inner surface ofsaid longitudinal hollow body for clamping a corresponding one of thelace segments against said inner surface of said longitudinal hollowbody, and a second position in which said handle portion is pulled outof said operating opening so that said lace-engaging portion is movedaway from said inner surface of said longitudinal hollow body forloosening the corresponding one of the lace segments.
 2. The laceadjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal hollow bodyhas a peripheral wall that includes first and second sides extendingbetween said first and second ends, and a third side interconnectingsaid first and second sides and confining said longitudinal passage incooperation with said first and second sides, said operating openingbeing confined between said first and second sides opposite to saidthird side.
 3. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 2, wherein each ofsaid first and second ends has a pair of spaced apart tabs protrudingoppositely and respectively from said first and second sides of saidperipheral wall, said longitudinal passage being disposed between saidpairs of said tabs, each of said first and second openings of saidlongitudinal passage being defined by one pair of said tabs and saidfirst, second, and third sides of said peripheral wall.
 4. The laceadjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lace-engaging portion andsaid handle portion of each of said stop members are angled to eachother to form a substantially L-shaped cross-section.
 5. The laceadjuster as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lace-engaging portion ofeach of said stop members has a plurality of teeth.
 6. The lace adjusteras claimed in claim 1, wherein said peripheral wall further has twopairs of pivot holes, and each of said stop members further includes apair of pivoting portions extending oppositely and outward from saidhandle portion and pivotally connected to said longitudinal hollow bodyat a corresponding pair of said pivot holes.